Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 19, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 23 Energy legislation shouldn't be a wish list The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. P rofits vs. prophets That is a simplistic way to view the difference between for-profit businesses and nonprofit organiza- tions. The purpose of a business is to make money for investors, while the purpose of a non- profit is altruistic, if not spiritual: to help people in need. But, having worked many years in the business world, and then a long time for a nonprofit, I'm struck by the increasing number of similarities. Sure, businesses are more market- driven and competitive; they must be in order to survive. And most nonprofits rely on donors, volunteers, government contracts and community spirit. But, you might be surprised at how much nonprofits are becoming more business-like, while businesses are becoming more active in charitable and community causes. Even more interesting is the growing overlap of the two sectors. Businesses are partnering with nonprofits in ventures benefitting both. It can combine the best of both – the efficiencies of busi- ness with the mission of a nonprofit. For example, one of the programs at Ascentria Care Alliance is senior residen- tial services. We own facilities for skilled nursing and reha- bilitation services for senior residents, yet we partner with an outstanding for-profit company to manage day-to-day operations. With the business's skills, capital and experi- ence, we've been able to make vital improvements at the facilities. Who benefits? The residents, the staff, the neigh- borhoods, the vendors and both partner organizations. It's great to experience that facility in action because you view a world where things are well maintained and people really enjoy being part of a supportive community. Social enterprise are ventures using commercial strategies for social causes. Our Language Bank employs more than 200 interpreters – mostly immigrants and resettled refugees – who provide interpretation, translation and training to hospitals, law firms, insurers and others. Ascentria has programs across the entire spectrum of human services, and we are evaluating ways to innovate by considering partnerships with businesses in a parallel field. It's a great way to re-examine what we are doing by forcing us to imagine, "What if?" and "To what end?" Henry David Thoreau said, "Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." That challenge should give all of us a jolt, whether we're in a business or nonprofit. How can we be more productive by being more creative and collaborative? How can we give coworkers the sense of purpose needed for hard work and high morale? Before Christmas, nonprofits had their biggest day of charitable donations, Giving Tuesday, right after retail busi- nesses had their biggest day of sales, Black Friday. One day perhaps there'll be something called Partnership Monday, when businesses and nonprofits collaborating for the great- er good challenge others to join them. Angela Bovill is president and CEO of Worcester nonprofit Ascentria Care Alliance. Nonprofits and for-profits should collaborate V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L BY ANGELA BOVILL Special to the Worcester Business Journal Angela Bovill WO R D F R O M T H E W E B Tweets of the week "Yikes! Wake up Central MA!!!" - Heather Taylor (@htaylor_aia) Feb. 7, on a story about the gender gap in leadership showing Central Mass. businesses are behind the state and national averages "Another example of the Worcester Old White Men's Club and another reason why Worcester struggles to create a relevant place for itself on the map of Massachusetts. You needed a "study" to tell you this? #pathetic #bias" - Or-Genix Therapeutic (@OrGenix) Feb. 5, on a story about the gender gap in leadership of Central Massachusetts businesses W Facebook feedback "As part of our LifeDesign promise, Fidelity Bank is committed to repre- senting a diverse culture, ranking highest amongst financial institutions in the area. The Worcester Business Journal high- lights the importance of gender equality in the workplace in this three part series. Check out the first installment and be on the lookout for parts 2 and 3!" - Fidelity Bank, Feb. 13, on a WBJ series on the gender and gender wage gap among leadership in Central Massachusetts companies C limate change is a very real crisis with huge implications, and countries, states, cities, businesses and individuals must do their part to combat mankind's increasingly damaging impact on the world's ecosystem. There are smart ways to combat climate change, but there are ineffective approaches, and the energy bill unveiled last week in the Massachusetts Senate is not a smart approach. Championed by State Sen. Marc Pacheco, the chair of Senate's Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, the bill reads like an idealistic wish list and lacks a pragmatic perspective. For example, the bill calls for a complete ban on the construction of new natural gas pipelines, a 10-year moratorium on fracking, expanding wind power goals, and eliminating the reimbursement caps for businesses and residents who produce their own solar, which sounds nice but will result in those who can't construct or afford solar arrays shoulder- ing a greater cost burden of supporting the main power grid infrastructure. If passed, the bill would force Massachusetts businesses and residents to make drastic changes to their energy habits – or face financial penalties through carbon fees – and put the reliability of the electric infrastructure at risk. Because the Trump Administration is setting back national efforts to combat climate change, it may seem states like Massachusetts must make drastic changes to make up for the federal govern- ment's lack of leadership, but this bill is not the best way to get buy-in from businesses and indi- viduals on this important cause. People must understand the end goal and then be instructed on how to get there – gradually. Having reimburse- ment for solar production will encourage adoption, but the caps should be raised over time – instead of eliminated all at once – to avoid shocking the current electric pricing system. Banning fracking may allay people's fears about a controversial way to harvest oil and natural gas, but creating robust safety regulations is a better way, so the precious resources can still be harvested. The energy cost in New England is already high, and to not effectively tap the boom in natural gas production is foolhar- dy. Building natural gas pipelines in the state will create more reliability for the New England power plant system and help wean both electric genera- tors and residences off of petroleum, which is a much more harmful fossil fuel. Power grid admin- istrator ISO New England has already warned a lack of fuel reliability for power plants could lead to blackouts. Nothing will kill clean energy accep- tance and adoption faster than if a region like New England with a deep commitment to wind and solar power starts experiencing regular blackouts for lack of consistent electricity generation. Of course, none of this is news to Pacheco and the rest of the bill's advocates. Knowing their leg- islation must pass through the Senate and House before being signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker – who has proven himself pragmatic when it comes to combating climate change – the bill is meant to provide talking points for the discussion of clean energy in the Massachusetts legislature, rather than providing a realistic guide to how the state can continue to be a national leader. It would be better to start the conversation at a place where the right change can actually happen at the right pace. W 23 Worcester Business Journal | February 19, 2018 | wbjournal.com

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